A PERVERT was caught on a hidden camera stealing dozens of pairs of ladies knickers from a family home.
Christopher McHarg could be seen using a mobile phone as a torch as he pulled bras and pants from a tumble dryer before stuffing them into his pocket, Ayr Sheriff Court heard today.
Repeated underwear thefts had prompted the alarmed homeowners to set up the camera in a bid to solve the mystery.
The family – who can’t be named for legal reasons – examined footage recorded over five months but were left amazed when they spotted Christopher McHarg – who they had known for years – on film mounting his early morning raids.
Footage revealed sneak thief McHarg, 28, helping himself to the underwear that belonged to two women who lived in the property in Monkton, Ayrshire.
The tumble dryer had been kept in their garage.
The four-minute clip was recorded at 4.15am on November 30 last year.
Police were called and a search of his home in Monkton in December discovered a haul of around 100 items of lingerie.
Pressteam Scotland
Christopher McHarg caught in the act
McHarg has been given a community payback order and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for two years.
He had earlier admitted stealing a quantity of ladies underwear between July and November 2014.
A source said: “The family were getting increasingly puzzled as to where all this underwear was disappearing to and set up their own camera.
“It recorded hours and hours of footage and they would occasionally check it. But to their astonishment they saw a person creeping around their property and recognised it was McHarg.
“They had all lived in the area their whole lives and instantly knew who it was.
“He can be seen carefully choosing what items he wants to keep and then puts the rest back. It’s disturbing and really creepy to see.
“The family are glad it’s all over but feel he should have been given a tougher sentence.
“And they think he should have been prosecuted for all the other underwear items he stole as it shouldn’t have been that hard to prove who it belonged to.”
Depute fiscal Scott Toal said: “The accused accepted responsibility for the thefts but he denied getting any sexual gratification, saying he didn’t know why he did it.”
The fiscal said McHarg slightly knew one of the women he was stealing from but he denied any infatuation with her.
Defence lawyer Gregor Forbes said McHarg had been drinking when he carried out his raids.
He said: “It wasn’t particularly well thought out – using a mobile phone as a torch.
“He made seven visits to the house, removing clothes on five of them.
“His GP has referred him to a psychologist and it’s been a stressful time for him.
“He’s been signed off his work at a local supermarket.”
Sheriff Scott Pattison said: “He says there was no fixation but it went on for six months.
“The offence and persistency of it is very concerning indeed.
“I’m certifying the offence as having a sexual aspect.”
McHarg had a not guilty plea to a charge of stealing ladies underwear ‘from various other locations’ in Monkton between the same dates accepted by prosecutors.
Swifty wins top honours at the annual fashion bash…
11:28, Wednesday, 25 February 2015
London Fashion Week finished in style on Tuesday night – ELLE Style, that is, with the magazine’s annual awards ceremony taking place at the Walkie-Talkie building. While Taylor Swift was crowned Woman Of The Year by her music mate Sam Smith, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley strutted off with Model Of The Year, and Cara Delevingne was named ELLE’s Breakthrough Actress.
Wearing a green Julien MacDonald dress with baroque detailing, Swifty showed her support for British designers, the lingerie-style frock no doubt a massive hit at the ceremony.
Rosie, who was presented with her award by Calvin Harris, showed off her amazing legs in an asymmetric black leather and suede mini dress. However, it was her new long bob haircut we couldn’t stop staring it – major hair envy!
As for Cara, the model-turned-actress cut a classic figure in a long-sleeved black gown, choosing cleavage in the age-old battle of ‘boobs or legs?’
Also in attendance at the glittering event were Jourdan Dunn, Ellie Goulding, Nick Jonas and Lindsay Lohan.
ELLE Style Awards 2015 | Red Carpet
ELLE Style Awards Full Winners List
Editor’s Choice: Christopher Bailey (presented by Lorraine Candy, ELLE UK’s Editor-in-Chief)
Emerging Designer: Ashley Williams (presented by Pixie Geldof)
Musician of the Year: Sam Smith (presented by Jourdan Dunn)
Contemporary Brand: MARC by Marc Jacobs Katie Hillier and Luella Bartley (presented by M.I.A.)
Model of the Year: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (presented by Calvin Harris)
TV Actress: Maggie Gyllenhaal (presented by Gwendoline Christie)
HM Conscious Award: Lily Cole (presented by Olivia Wilde)
Rising Star: Rebel Wilson (presented by Jennifer Saunders)
Accessories Designer: Stuart Vevers by Coach (presented by Jessie Ware)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Manolo Blahnik (presented by Naomi Campbell)
Actor of the Year: Luke Evans (presented by Ellie Goulding)
Breakthrough Actress: Cara Delevingne (presented by Michael Winterbottom)
Red Carpet Designer: Mary Katrantzou (presented by Leigh Lezark)
Film Actress: Diane Kruger (presented by Bryan Cranston)
Designer of the Year: Erdem (presented by Alexa Chung)
Outstanding Contribution to Entertainment: Simon Cowell (presented by Lorraine Candy)
Woman of the Year: Taylor Swift (presented by Sam Smith)
